Career
Nakatani has long resided on the Southern California circuit of Santa Anita Park, Hollywood Park, and Delegate March racetrack. In 2006, he ranked sixth among United States jockeys with 145 wins on 738 mounts, with earnings of $14,001,900. Brittany, Matthew, and Austin are from a previous marriage to Michele Dollase, daughter of trainer Wallace Dollase.
Corey"s mother is Marie Nakatani and he is one of ten children.
Nakatani eventually approached horse trainer Roger Stein for work. After three days of mucking out stalls and walking horses, he decided he wanted to ride even though he had never been on a horse before.
Stein then suggested that he get some experience on a working farm, so he learned the ropes on the Thoroughbred farm of Tony Matos. He then went on and broke and galloped horses for Johnny Longden and Longden’s son, Eric Longden before starting his career as a jockey.
He moved to Southern California in April 1989, and became the leading apprentice jockey that same year.
His current residence is Southern California. Nakatani has ridden a number of notable horses including Jackson Bend, Nehro, Colonel John, Lava Manitoba, Thor"s Echo, Aragorn, Rock Hard Ten, Sarafan, Indian Blessing, Lite Light, Relaxed Gesture, Sandpit, Serena"s Song, Silic, and Literature de Justice. Weeks earlier, the jockey had broken his collarbone in a March 17 spill at Santa Anita.
In the 2014 Kentucky Derby, he finished sixth on Dance With Fate.
He also is a golfer who carries a three handicap. His role models are Tiger Woods and Fred Couples.
His favorite horse of all-time is Lava Manitoba Nakatani"s current agent is Tony Matos.